What’s your price range?
In the $150-$400 range, you can get some solid-top or all laminate ukuleles. Much of the Kala stuff is in this range. Córdoba also makes some in this range as well. This is just my opinion, but I avoid most of the brands in this range that I didn’t list.
In the $400-$600 range, you can get an all-solid ukulele from brands like Pono, Ohana, Pepe Romero Creations, Islander, Magic Fluke, and some nicer Kalas.
In the $600-$1000 range, you can get almost any Pono, Koaloha Opio, nicer Pepe Romero Creations, and Rebel.
$1,000+ puts you into the handmade Hawaiian brands like Kamaka, Kanilea, and Koaloha, as well as others.
What kind of sound do you like? Mahogany is warm, spruce is crisp, and everything else is in between.
I’d go to The Ukulele Site and listen to their videos for different ukes. That’s the best online place to explore. If you have a good ukulele store (there aren’t too many, but they are out there) that carries the above brands, I’d go play a few there.
Good luck, and congrats on your graduation! I’m sorry you had to experience it in the midst of all this malarkey.